Characterization of the maize Mutator transposable element MURA transposase as a DNA-binding protein - PubMed (original) (raw)

Characterization of the maize Mutator transposable element MURA transposase as a DNA-binding protein

M I Benito et al. Mol Cell Biol. 1997 Sep.

Abstract

The autonomous MuDR element of the Mutator (Mu) transposable element family of maize encodes at least two proteins, MURA and MURB. Based on amino acid sequence similarity, previous studies have reported that MURA is likely to be a transposase. The functional characterization of MURA has been hindered by the instability of its cDNA, mudrA, in Escherichia coli. In this study, we report the first successful stabilization and expression of MURA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrate that MURA is a DNA-binding protein that specifically binds to sequences within the highly conserved Mu element terminal inverted repeats (TIRs). DNase I and 1,10-phenanthroline-copper footprinting of MURA-Mu1 TIR complexes indicate that MURA binds to a conserved approximately 32-bp region in the TIR of Mu1. In addition, MURA can bind to the same region in the TIRs of all tested actively transposing Mu elements but binds poorly to the diverged Mu TIRs of inactive elements. Previous studies have reported a correlation between Mu transposon inactivation and methylation of the Mu element TIRs. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrate that MURA can interact differentially with unmethylated, hemimethylated, and homomethylated TIR substrates. The significance of MURA's interaction with the TIRs of Mu elements is discussed in the context of what is known about the regulation and mechanisms of Mutator activities in maize.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Mutator-like elements with multiple long terminal inverted repeats in plants.
Ferguson AA, Jiang N. Ferguson AA, et al. Comp Funct Genomics. 2012;2012:695827. doi: 10.1155/2012/695827. Epub 2012 Mar 8. Comp Funct Genomics. 2012. PMID: 22474413 Free PMC article.
PIF- and Pong-like transposable elements: distribution, evolution and relationship with Tourist-like miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements.
Zhang X, Jiang N, Feschotte C, Wessler SR. Zhang X, et al. Genetics. 2004 Feb;166(2):971-86. doi: 10.1534/genetics.166.2.971. Genetics. 2004. PMID: 15020481 Free PMC article.
Insertion sequences.
Mahillon J, Chandler M. Mahillon J, et al. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 1998 Sep;62(3):725-74. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.62.3.725-774.1998. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 1998. PMID: 9729608 Free PMC article. Review.
Alternative transcription initiation sites and polyadenylation sites are recruited during Mu suppression at the rf2a locus of maize.
Cui X, Hsia AP, Liu F, Ashlock DA, Wise RP, Schnable PS. Cui X, et al. Genetics. 2003 Feb;163(2):685-98. doi: 10.1093/genetics/163.2.685. Genetics. 2003. PMID: 12618406 Free PMC article.
Functional dissection of the cis-acting sequences of the Arabidopsis transposable element Tag1 reveals dissimilar subterminal sequence and minimal spacing requirements for transposition.
Liu D, Mack A, Wang R, Galli M, Belk J, Ketpura NI, Crawford NM. Liu D, et al. Genetics. 2001 Feb;157(2):817-30. doi: 10.1093/genetics/157.2.817. Genetics. 2001. PMID: 11156999 Free PMC article.

References

1. Genetics. 1986 Dec;114(4):1293-312 - PubMed
1. Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Aug 10;12(15):5955-67 - PubMed
1. Genetics. 1988 Aug;119(4):951-8 - PubMed
1. Basic Life Sci. 1988;47:121-35 - PubMed
1. Genes Dev. 1988 Nov;2(11):1364-80 - PubMed

Characterization of the maize Mutator transposable element MURA transposase as a DNA-binding protein - PubMed (original) (raw)